BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NP

Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park lies on the edge of the western rift valley. In the local
Lukiga language, Bwindi means 'Impenetrable.'

The name is appropriate, for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 331 square
kilometers (205 square miles) of tangled vegetation draped over a deeply
fissured landscape of steep, slippery valleys and high, draughty ridges.
The park, located at an altitude of 1,160 to 2,607 meters (3,800 to 8,550
feet), occupies different vegetation zones but predominantly is a tropical
rain forest.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a home to roughly half of the world's
mountain gorillas. The park was established as a safe habitat for several
families of mountain gorillas, and it is now the location of an important
scientific conservation program. The park was declared an animal sanctuary
in 1961, a national park in 1991, and a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park is the richest, most species-diverse forest in Uganda and
one of the richest ecosystems in Africa. Apart from the rare mountain gorillas,
the park also has over 120 other species of mammal including 11 primates,
including chimpanzee, black-and-white colobus, l'hoest monkey, and red tailed
monkeys.

There are
at least 14 species of snakes, 27 species of frogs and toads, 6 kinds of
chameleons, 14 types of lizards, skinks or geckos. The park has at least
202 species of butterfly and 324 species of trees. Also, elephant, bush
pig, giant forest hog, many species of bats and rodents live here.

There are approximately 30 gorilla families in the park, with 8 habituated
gorilla groups. All the habituated groups are tracked daily by not more
than 8 vistors per group, escorted by National Park rangers and guides.

The distance from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 550 kilometers
(340 miles). It takes roughly 6 hours to travel from Kampala to the park.